First part of a two-part lecture series on the crisis in copyright, given by Dylan Suzanne at the University of Maine, in November 2004. For further information, please visit http://www.dylansuzanne.info/mainelectures.html

Abstract:
I argue that contemporary strong copyright protection cannot survive digital technologies, and, further, that this is for the best in the end.

Strong copyright legislation once served a purpose: through the commodification of ideas and expressions, it encouraged creation of works that served the public good, but which would not have been created without its guarantee of a temporary artificial monopoly. As the means of production have become available to the public through digital technologies, the copyright industries have become themselves revolutionary, giving rise to a spontaneous communist economy. Industrial capitalists, however, have not allowed this to occur peacefully, but are engaging in a program of governmentally legitimated repression in order to bring about feudalism within information society. The benefits intended for the public are increasingly being seized by corporations, and the limitations meant for industry are increasingly being placed upon the public.

Hence, I argue that our duty as citizens is to work towards the radical reduction of copyright protection, and that our duty as members of the public is to riot in the digital streets; to share, to download, and to copy.

Rip, mix, and burn!


This movie is part of the collection: P2P Politics

Sponsor: University of Maine, Departments of New Media and Philosophy
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Copyright; Marxism; Philosophy
Contact Information: dylansuzanne@charter.net

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Individual Files

Write a review
Downloaded 294 times Reviews
Average Rating:

Reviewer: Ron Raygun - - January 23, 2011
Subject: Title
I failed to see the real meaning of Feudalism explained in the video. My knowledge of the term traces back to England under the rule of King George, whereby there was No private ownership of land and the people were "serfs" beholden to the King. In order to farm or use the land, payment to the King had to be arranged, and if another "serf" came along and offered the King more money, the earlier party would be thrown off the land without recourse. A similar system, although less Draconian is in place here in the U.S. as property or real estate taxation. No one really owns their land since it can be taken away if taxes aren't paid. I think the video was done poorly and didn't really make the points that it could have. I do believe however that the organizations mentioned are greedy and want to suck every nickel they can for works even though the artists are dead. Sonny Bono and the others who want perpetual royalties are crazy. There needs to be a reasonable limit.